Community leaders and the students agree problem No. 1 is parental supervision. No. 2 is a lack of safe options west of Interstate 65.

Ron Washington needed something to do over winter break, so he signed up for Robbie Valentine’s basketball clinic in Park Hill.

“It seemed like it would be a fun thing to do instead of sitting in the house playing games,” Washington said.

But after the whistle blows, Washington will be looking for something to do at night and on the weekends and that’s why he made his way to the Mall Saint Matthews on Saturday.

“My sister said instead of going to a party let’s go to the mall. It will be fun there,” Washington said. “And, then a whole bunch of social media things pooped up on Instagram – people going to the mall. I was at the food court with friends and just everybody started running like monkey see monkey do, and they started kicking everybody out.”

Diontae Reed arrived as the chaos outside began. He said frequently he’ll catch a TARC and head to the mall to shop and see friends.

“For real, there’s nothing to do over here and me and my friends, we’re not trying to be in the streets – and the Boys and Girls club,” Reed said. “They close on Saturday so everybody chooses the mall on Saturday.”

“It was very peaceful as my wife and I were walking through, but I told her, “something’s going to break loose here in a little bit,” Valentine said.

In a roundabout way, Valentine’s camp aims to prevent situations like his family experienced Saturday at the mall with life lessons.

And messages about responsibility. But he said ultimately even good kids end up in trouble when unsupervised with 2,000 other teens.

So while his clinic keeps minds and bodies occupied during the day, he said engagement at night is a family affair.

“Mommas and daddies better come up with solutions because it’s going to come down to them,” Valentine said.

A couple weeks ago Metro Parks announced it was holding extended hours at community centers during winter break. While that is the case, the director said they don’t have the resources to fund transportation to those sites.